Wendy: I'll process the poppies
Juliet: I'll adjust the parameters, Yamna stay on standby, we'll need a whole lot of accelerated healing when it starts.
Wendy: Done, I am putting him under!
Juliet: Adjustments made; we are good to go
Tohgi: Alright I'll create the Sanso; are there any risks I need to be aware of?
Juliet: nothing really, the only risk is if Yamna doesn't heal him quick enough, he could die from blood loss.
Yamna: HUH?!
Juliet: What?
Yamna: You could have said his LIFE! was dependent on me at any point before his LIFE! Actually became dependant on me
Tohgi: To be completely honest, she has a fair point.
Juliet: Don't worry all you have to do is basic healing for each time the arm rips into his shoulder and burst his arteries!
Tohgi: Juliet… it's okay… you can stop talking now.
Juliet: what?
Tohgi: it's fine, you've spoken enough. Yamna, listen if you were accepted into squad 3, regardless of the conditions, then you can do this, if you don't think you can we can abort the mission
Yamna: no, no, if it's just healing I can do it, I'm just not used to people expecting anything from me, but I can prove myself. Let's go!
Tohgi: You sound too excited now, calm down.
Juliet: Okay, get ready, the moment I attach it and it senses his reiki the bursting arteries part would start.
Tohgi: I feel like we should take five at this point, there a lit too much adrenaline.
Juliet: Attaching the arm… now. Yamna your turn!
Tohgi: Completely ignored.
Yamna: Okay!
The arm integrated with Devon's reiki channels when it came in contact with his shoulder. It began attaching to his muscles at which point Yamna was healing the injuries it was making. Everyone braced for the bloodshed, but after some time it seemed like the process hadn't even started.
Tohgi: Has it started? Is it working?
Juliet: From all indications… yes.
Tohgi: (Hold on, she's healing him a bit too efficiently, it seems like there aren't even any injuries to heal)
Juliet: Hmm, maybe I overestimated how much damage the arm would cause, we don't even need the Sanso right now.
Tohgi: There isn't even a single drop of blood, so it's either your arm isn't causing any injuries at all, or she's an amazing healer.
Juliet: considering how concentrated she is, I guess it's option two, there wasn't even anything to worry about to begin with.
Tohgi: You're right.
Juliet: (There isn't a single reason for her not to be acknowledged and it's plain to see) Hang in there Yamna, it would finish soon
Yamna: Okay!
Tohgi: How would we know when it finishes?
Juliet: the light on the side would turn blue and then we just wait for him to wake up and test it out. I'm excited!
After a while the arm had gotten completely integrated, with Devon's body. His vitals were stable, and from all indications, there were no injuries or complications to worry about. All that was left was for Devon to regain consciousness, and when he did, they tested its mobility and functionality.
Tohgi: does it feel natural?
Devon: as close to natural as can be
Juliet: I wanted to get fake skin to give you the sensation of a real arm, but I ran dry after making the arm.
Tohgi: You spent all your money on this? How much was it?
Juliet: I can't remember really, I spend all my money all the time, this was definitely one of my most worthy undertakings.
Devon: A skin is unnecessary; I prefer it this way. A good reminder of what I've been through and what I can achieve.
Juliet: Speaking of what you can do, hehehe, flex your wrist downwards like you're trying to pop your bone up
Devon: huh? like this?
A mini gun popped out of his arm.
Devon: Oh… okay…
Juliet: The reiki channelled to your hand is stored in the mechanical arm, that was the most difficult part to make, but as a southerner I thought that would be useful.
Devon: That is very helpful, so I just allow my reiki flow naturally and it gets stored?
Juliet: that's correct, and you release it through the nuzzle, it's an extension of your body now so you should get the hang of it quick enough.
Tohgi: That's cool, anything else?
Juliet: Do the same thing with your wrist, but in the opposite direction
Devon: Okay...
A blade came out the bottom of his wrist.
Juliet: I just added that because I think it's cool
Tohgi: I see
Juliet: now rotate your arm and do that again, but in a safe direction
Tohgi: PAUSE!
Juliet: what?
Tohgi: you said "safe direction" whatever that is, doesn't sound like it should be done in a lab, let's go outside.
Juliet: Oh, that actually makes sense, I could have saved a lot of money while testing the arm.
Tohgi: I am really trying to decide if you're smart or stupid.
Juliet: funny enough you're not the first person to say that.
They headed outside and Devon rotated his hand
Juliet: can you feel it?
Devon: yeah, the blade actually feels different… like they are separated?
Juliet: Success! The blades rotate whenever you rotate your arm, and you would never forget, because they feel different, but then this one isn't really a blade per say, try it, safe direction remember. Oh and like I said, like you're trying to pop out your bone
Devon: okay.
Devon did as he was instructed and a mini blade shot out of his arm at supersonic speed.
Juliet: if you ever run out of reiki I installed twelve mini blades, but be careful using them, the reloading process isn't that easy to do.
Devon: Understood.
Tohgi: Is that all?
Juliet: yeah, the light is blue, would turn yellow if there are minor functional problems, still useable but would be better to let it rest and repair itself. If it turns red it needs a technician, which is only me right now, but I have my notes and the plan.
She handed over copies of the plan and her notes to Tohgi and Devon.
Tohgi: Oh you actually thought ahead, I'm impressed.
Juliet: In case I lose mine or if anything happens to me, but for now just let me know if you need anything, do you have a reicomm?
Devon: huh?
Tohgi: Just write me a letter or tell my family.
Juliet: You don't have any receptors for communication here, well even with a red signal, you should still be able to use it normally for about a month or so, but don't use the gun or blades. The best case scenario is that you damage the arm, worst case scenario, you could damage your body
Yamna: what if he accidentally uses it, isn't there a way to stop it from coming out?
Juliet: you can't really accidentally use it, although it seems like the motion is all you need you also need a conscious effort to bring it out. That is why I had to emphasise on him thinking about popping out his bone. It involves mind and motion; don't worry you'll get a hang of it in no time
Tohgi: That's good, alright guys pack up, we're going back tomorrow
Juliet: Tomorrow?? Huh? What about your family?
Tohgi: I've seen them and they doing well, I should get back to business or I might rub the knights the wrong way, I'm sure Yamna has work to do as well.
Juliet: I'm sure she'll be fine, and you really need to spend more time with your family.
Tohgi: I can always come again next time that's fine.
Juliet: But…
Tohgi: Unless you want to stay, I would be happy to indulge you.
Juliet: who me?
Tohgi: Considering how excited you were, going into the forest, I'm sure there's a lot you want to explore, how could I be so inconsiderate, should we stay?
Juliet: I wouldn't mind exploring a little bit
Tohgi: there's a lot you can find out, plants that induce severe paralysis, hallucinations and all kinds of altered metabolic functions. The animals are also interesting, have you ever seen a Gibanje snake?
Juliet: Gibanje? What's that?
Tohgi: Oh I really don't know much about it, but I heard it doesn't rely on smell or heat, unlike other snakes
Juliet: How does it hunt then?
Tohgi: it is still not completely understood, I thought you might like to find out about it, and that's not all, the forest is probably bigger than the biggest city in Vandekar and completely unexplored
Juliet: I know!!!! So much to research and find out about!
Tohgi: A kindred spirit, I have never met anyone that has as much enthusiasm to study and research the forest
Juliet: it's exciting right?
Tohgi: Sadly, I don't have the knowledge or expertise to do so, I thought you would want to, in my stead…
Juliet: I would!! There is so much I can find out, I never thought I would meet anyone that shares my excitement and beliefs, back home everyone laughs at me and calls the little knowledge we have on the forest myths. I believe that there's a lot we don't know, I didn't know I would actually be coming to the southern forest let alone finding out the myths are possibly true, this is like a present.
Tohgi: but like I said earlier, this forest is huge and dangerous to explore, you would definitely need more than a week don't you think?
Juliet: That's true, I am not really a fighter as well
Juliet released a deep sigh, an expression of her regret and disappointment.
Juliet: this is such a missed opportunity I don't even have any money to elongate my stay now.
Tohgi: What if you could… elongate your stay I mean. Why don't you move here? but to be honest the life would be too modest for you, forget I said anything.
Juliet: Modesty is not even a problem, that is easy to deal with but I can't just leave my dad's laboratory.
Tohgi: There are people that can replace you and you would simply be maintaining the status quo, here you can create your legacy be your own woman create and research whatever you want, but if it's too much for you to handle I understand.
Juliet: Hmm, but even if I agreed to this, where would I stay? How would I fund my research? There are too many variables…
Tohgi: (this is my last card) That's fair, I am a bit disappointed though, the reason I was able to get enough reiki to become a knight is in this forest, I was hoping you could explain it to me.
Juliet: Wait what? There is something that actually increases reiki levels in this country? How does no one know of this?
Tohgi: No one cares enough to explore the southern forest so it is basically bandit territory. I was just lucky to stumble upon it.
Juliet: Okay, say I agree, hypothetically, how do I get access to the forest considering it is under lock and key with bandits?
Tohgi smiled, he finally got the breakthrough he wanted.
Tohgi: Well you just fixed a bandit leader's son, I'm sure I can put in a good word for you to join as an honorary member, you get access and protection but your research has to stay here for now.
Juliet: what about funding and living?
Tohgi: I'll arrange that with the bandits in town, that's easy to deal with, I'll get the best available houses ready for you and you can do whatever you want, whenever you want, as long as you are not damaging the forest.
Juliet: What are you planning?
Tohgi: huh?
Juliet: Access to the forest and your mystery secret reiki booster, protection, funding, a house and my research being unrestricted as long as it is kept a secret. I am not as oblivious as I seem, this is all too good for you not to gain anything from it.
Tohgi: Think of it as a thank you for the arm.
Juliet: this is a bit too much for a thank you, and do you trust me to keep your secret?
Tohgi: trust? Hmmm, well I guess I trust your curiosity and desire for preservation. If anything valuable is found in this forest, they would raid and destroy it, I know you're not naive enough not to know that.
Juliet: I like you, I accept your offer, but when whatever you're planning comes to fruition, I want my share of the credit and success
Tohgi: Partners then?
Tohgi extended his arm for a gentleman's agreement, Juliet accepted it and shook his hand.
Juliet: Partners. I'm going to need a separate building as a base of operations
Tohgi: Done!
END!